The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-22
The NEW MEDICAL SENSATION.
Further Details Concerning the Recently
Discovered Consumption Cure.

This treatment, which is simply rectal injec-
tons of carbonc acid gas. is not original with
DIR. Mclaughlin, although he is the first to give
it trial in this country but is the result of ex-
periments made years ago by Claude Bernard,
eminent French physician. DR.. Bernard expert
mented with the lower animals and found that
gases which were poisonous when inhaled pro-
duced no injurious results when introduced into
the intestines. Beyond this point his investiga-
tons were not carried; but few years ago Prof.
Bergeron. of Lyons, commenced q series or ex-
periments to ascertain the effects of various
gases thus introduced into the human system. In
the coui Sc of his investigation he found that GER
tain gases applied through the rectum produced
marked results in persons suffering from
phthisis consumption. Before announcing
this discovery he made it the subjecs of careful
study for two years. experimenting upon numer-
patients, and not only found that carbonic
acid gas, when properly introduced into the
intestines, had beneficial effect upon the
patient, but also had the satisfaction
of effecting permanent cure in several cases of
consumption. Last August Professor Bergeron
embodied the results of his Investigations in q
paper which was read before the Acadamv of
Sciences in Paris. His discovery was received
more, but the physicians in the Paris hospitals
began experiments in the line indicated by Prof
Bergeron with results similar to those obtained
by him.
marvellous accomplishments of the French ply
sicians, and determined to make q test of the sys
tenn in the treatment of some OF the patients
under his charge. Accordingly he prepared the
necessary apparatus, and asked a number of pa
tients III The advanced stages of Dhthisis il they
were willing to undergo the treatment, being
sured that it would not be in the least harmful.
and might prove very beneficial. AT first only
few of tho more aggravated sufferers availed
themselves OF the treatment but the wonder
full results became manifest many others re-
quested to be placed under the same treatment
On the 10th day of February and the few days
following all other medical treatment of the sub
iects was entirely stopped and no remedy but
carbonic acid gas administered
The method of administering the gas is very
simple. and when properly followed produces no
pain in the patient, and but little Inconvenience
The apparatus used by Drs. Mclaughlin. Bruen
and Taylor is exceedingly simple, consisting of a
rubber gas bag OF capacity of four or five gal
Ions and a Woulf bottle, such is used by
chemists for washing or saturating gases. and
the necessary connections OF rubber tubing
The flask is filled with hot water, bearing in So
luton sodium chloride and sodium sulphide in
the proportion of five grains of each to twenty
four ounces of water. The rubber bag is filled
with gaseous carbonic acid, and connected by
tubing with the bottle in such a way that pres
sure upon the bag will force its contents through
the liquid, and thence through rubber fitted
with syring-tube. By pressure upon the bag
| the gas is forced into the intestines The pres
| sure is carefully regulated not to produce
any pain in the patient, and the whole operation
| lasts but ten twenty minutes.
| The treatment of the chosen patients has been
continued regularly since Feb TO- from one to
| five pnts of the gas being administered to each
| subject twice daily. and, with results thus far.
| but little short of miraculous. One of the most
| interesting cases is that of man about forty
| eight years of age. who has been sick for about
| nineteen months. On Feb 10, when he was put
| under the gas treatment. he was SO weak rs to
| be unable to turn in bed. and emaciated that
| his bones nearly protruded through his skin. He
| was unable to retain nourishment OF any Sort
| covered n Nor
spiration, and had an almost ipcessant cough
which caused intense pain in his chest He was
| so far gone that the physicians said he would
not live forty eight hours. When seen yester-
day, after six weeks treatment, he up in bed
| and said that he had been mp and about the
| ward, and that he had not had a sweat for two
| weeks His appetite was good, he said and his
food caused him trouble. He rested we'll at
night, his cough had almost entirely disappeared
and with it the pains in his chest.
| Another interesting case is that of man who
has been suffering from phthiss for two years,
and had been under treatment in the hos pit al
for three months, during which time he had no,
| left his bed. His general symptoms were SINH
| lar to those of the patient above mentioned
| Gas was first administered to him on Feb. 13
| Cne month later he walked down three flights oil
stairs to be weighed, and climbed back to his
| ward afterward. After another week he again
made the trip, and his weight showed a gain Of
three pounds during the week. Yesterday he
was walking about in the hospital, and said tina
he felt very much better and stronger.
case of a somewhat different nature was
found in the womens ward The patient was
admitted to the hospital some time ago, suffer
ing acutely from catarrhal pneumonia She haG
a high fever, was subject to severe paroxysms O.
coughing, accompanied bv profuse expectora
ton, composed almost solely of pus She wa
also continually bathed in cold clammy sweat
Under the carbonic acid gas treatment, which
was commenced on Feb. IA these symptoms
have entirely disappeared Expectoration ha
cease d and the large cavity in the right lung !:
now perfectly dry and gradually contracting
and to all appearances the patient is on the roat
to complete recovery.
There are some twenty cdd cases in the hos
pital under the same treatment. and all hav
shown equally remarkable Improvement.
| DR.. McLaughlin's theory of the action of tn
carbOnic acid. which cor tains about one part il
ten of sulphure,ted hydrogen. as we'll as a trac
of gaseous hydrochlorc acid. is that the ga
slowly introduced into the intentines is gradua
| lv absorbed and passes into the system. bein
finally exhaled. Thus reaching the affeete
parts it arrests the decomposition nv effecting
rapid OxdiZatlon of the affected surfaces. TIL
absorption of the gas and it's subsequent contac
with the diseased surface is shown by the burn
inc or smartng sensation which Ia felt III thos
parts soon after treatment with the gas Afte
each application the pulse falls ten to iftee
! beats, respiration increases four to Six and tn
temperature falls several degrees. In one cas-
the temperature was lowered six degrees fro,
| lO5 The treatment also has a slight effect O
the kidneys. The further aud ultimate resul,
, of the experiments are awaited with intense ir
terest Dr. Mclaughlin is sanguine of the SUI
cess of tie method, and predicts that it will lea
to complete change In the treatment of pu
monary troubles.
Mind Reading in China.
Wong Chin Foo, in New York World.
I Mind reading or "Bshopism" is called by II
9 Chinese in China Lew Jee," or flowing know
| edge"